GSPD Week 1 Games To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the final group of teams in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee kick off their 2024 seasons, we're starting to see even more interesting match-ups.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After all, many of our non-region games in this part of the state involve teams who aren't normally on each other's dockets of late or now find themselves playing in different regions and/or classifications.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These four games in particular are piquing our interest heading into Week 1.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CAROLINA FOREST (1-0) AT HARTSVILLE (0-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Panther fans are still seeing whether <strong>Kam Long</strong> or <strong>Patrick Mullen</strong> eventually come out of this early season quarterback battle, we know Carolina Forest well enough to know that it's successes are more often a product of the team's ability to move the ball on the ground. That's where <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1148537' first='Jaryn' last='Fox']</strong> (16 carries, 118 yards last week against West Brunswick) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149046' first='Chris' last='Livingston']</strong> (24 yards, three touchdowns) come in. Likewise, Hartsville will turn to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578854' first='EJ' last='Smith']</strong> in replacing three-year starting quarterback <strong>McKendrie Douglas</strong>. Oddly enough, the Panthers actually threw less than Jeff Calabrese's Red Foxes last year, but we think the combination of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012592' first='Hakeem' last='Watters']</strong> and part-timer <strong>Reggie Smith</strong> in the backfield could level that out some in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WEST FLORENCE (0-1) AT MYRTLE BEACH (1-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of running the ball, West Florence coach Jody Jenerette said that is priority No. 1 not only for this week's trip to the beach, but throughout the season. He's going to need <strong>Jeremiah Bryant</strong> and <strong>Zion Hill</strong> to get some production to keep the Knights on the field. If tackles <strong>Kairahn Curry</strong> and <strong>Clinton Free</strong>, guards <strong>Shannon Johnson</strong> and <strong>Matt Allen</strong>, center <strong>Cayden Taylor</strong> and tight end <strong>Gage Herring</strong> can get even a decent push, it could make all the difference against an improved Myrtle Beach defense. Seahawks middle linebacker <strong>LeRon Favorite</strong> started off his senior year with 10 tackles in last week's win over Lake City, while position mate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267229' first='Antonio' last='Brown']</strong> added eight of his own. Myrtle Beach's best way to stop the Knights' rushing attack might be outside linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='395980' first='Ashton' last='Keith']</strong> and <strong>Jamarcus Carroll</strong> and defensive ends <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1395042' first='Malachi' last='Geathers']</strong> and <strong>Noah Herring</strong>. Those four combined for seven-and-a-half tackles for loss last week against Lake City.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DILLON (1-0) AT SOCASTEE (0-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams got off to dramatically different starts, as Dillon and first-time starting quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1573996' first='Rahmond' last='Hamilton']</strong> took care of business against North Carolina's Scotland County. Hamilton threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 56 yards in the win. It was a nice complement to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346196' first='Jamarion' last='Fling']</strong> - who put up yet another 100-yard rushing game while finishing with three touchdowns. The next big player to watch on this offense, though, is junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165163' first='Zamaurious' last='Robertson']</strong> at receiver. He was responsible for 136 of Hamilton's passing yards. He also played a little defense and picked off a pass in the win. Socastee will likely have defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158009' first='Jonathan' last='Goswick']</strong> miming Robertson's movements pre-snap some. However, the Braves are going to need to find an offensive after scoring only 16 points in the season-opening loss to Wando. Look for Socastee to try to get creative in getting the ball to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='413888' first='Josh' last='Brown']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467828' first='London' last='Wilder']</strong> any way they can.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WACCAMAW (1-0) AT HANNAH-PAMPLICO (1-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This could be one of those sneakily exciting games buried out in Pamplico, even if the two teams have a little different style to their ground games. The Warriors picked up a quality win last week over Carvers Bay thanks to 102 yards and a touchdown from <strong>Bryce Holloway</strong>, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473016' first='AJ' last='Grate']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473025' first='Andre' last='Grate']</strong> (pictured) each reached the end zone and Waccamaw finished with 280 yards as a team. While Hannah-Pamplico isn't necessarily one-dimensional with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464882' first='Jamarcus' last='Williams']</strong> - the talented tailback who missed most of last year - he is clearly the focal point. Last week against Heathwood Hall, he had 150 yards by halftime, barely played after the break and finished with 186 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. We'd say that's proof he's healthy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->